bridges of boats which cross the Neva in the summer. A portion of each
can be removed to allow vessels to pass up or down the stream; but by a
police regulation this can be only done with one bridge at a time, and
at a certain fixed hour of the day, so that the traffic across the river
receives no very material interruption. Near the end of one of them, on
the opposite side of the river, they observed a handsome edifice with a
fine portico before it, and two granite columns, ornamented with galleys
carved in white stone. This building they found was the Exchange.
Farther westward of it they observed other magnificent buildings, which
they learned were the Corps of Cadets,--the name is applied to the
building itself,--the Academy of Sciences, the University, the Academy
of Arts, and several others,--all covering a vast extent of ground
nearer the mouth of the river. By the time they reached their hotel
they were tolerably tired, and, to their surprise, they found that it
was nearly ten o'clock. Even then there was a bright twilight, though
it was too dark to enable them to distinguish more than the grand
outlines of the city.

CHAPTER FOUR.

The Russian Passport System--Baron Verysoft--Mr Tobias Evergreen--His
Gratitude for the Baron's Politeness--The Difficulty of reading
Russian--The Travellers at a Nonplus--Russian Signboard--Fred and
Harry lose themselves--Meet with Tom Pulling--How Tom and his
Messmates managed to find their Latitude and Longitude, and to steer a
right Course for Port.

The next morning our travellers were reminded that they were not in a
free country, in which a man may come and go as he lists without let or
hindrance, but that certain very stringent regulations respecting
passports must be conformed to before they could attempt to do anything
else. Most condescending gentlemen, "commissionaires" they called
themselves, undertook for certain considerations to get the work done
for them; but Cousin Giles declined their services.

"I have no doubt that we shall be able to get through the business
ourselves perfectly well, and we shall see something of the way the
Russians manage these affairs," said he.

He intended to visit the mercantile house on whom he had a letter of
credit, and he had also several letters of introduction which he wished
to deliver as soon as possible. To his bankers, accordingly, they first
drove, and they had no difficulty in finding the house. The